Gate-latch.



J. B. CLAY.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION man was. mi.

Patented Yoct. 8,1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET flag:

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:immuimlsl Mza@ L B. CLAY.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED Alma. I9I7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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y of the recess.

spring 2O arranged to bearagainst the top of part 16, and a pin 21, or its equivalent,

carried by the post 6. I have also kshown a housing consisting ofthe sides 22and top 23,"formedintegral with or carried by part '16, and inclosing the spring.l kThe holes may be provided in the housing for the insertion'or withdrawalof the pin 21. Y In operation, assuming that the device is `mounted substantially as shown and described, and that the gate is shut and locked as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and yit is desired toppen the gate and swing it to one side or the other, for example as indicated inthe dotted lines `in Fig. 3. When ythe parts .16e-17 are raised the lugs 18 and 19 clear `the recesses, and lug 18, can ride upon the ,upper face of iange 8, and the gate may be opened. Owing to the spring the latch ordinarily remains in the position shown in thedotted lines in Fig.A 3 until the gate is pushed or slammed shut. Assuming that fit is slammed shut, one of the arms 17, that is the one in proper position, will engage the post 1,\and as the gate continues to swing, part 16 ywill be pivoted about post-,6.l kThe lug 18 will first drop into the recess 10, and owing to the greater width of the recess than the lug, the saine has time to drop down enough to engage one of theside walls If the gate is not moving very rapidly, as for example, being slowly pushed into place, lug 19 will engage in recess 12, and the gate'l locked'in its central position. It the gate is moved rapidly, however, as in the case whereit is slammed shut, lug 19 may not have a chance to engage in itsrecess, but rides upon thek face of the flange 8. The gate, however, will not be swung by to open or unlocked position,`as it is locked Vby the partial engagement of lug 18 with the walls of the recess 10. Upon the rebounding of the gate, lug 19 kwill ordinarily engage in its recess 12, permitting lug 18 to drop farther and substantially Vto the position shown in Fig. 1. Regardless, however, of whether lug 19 dropped into its recess, the gate will be securely and automatically locked shut by the lug 18, so that it cannot be accidentally opened. y

` It is obvious from the preceding that the action would be thesame if the parts were kmounted "on the postl and arranged', to engage the bar 6, 'andthis is true regardlessv 'of the method of securing the parts to the respective bar or post. yThev action is the same when the latch is used on a tiltable gate and it isnot Vrendered inoperative by ,Y l For `illustration of theY preferred construction, I yhave shown the gate, or the fence post sagging or pulling out of place to, any reasonable extent. The same is also not easily unlocked or operated by stock. Owing to the housing as r`well as the covering ot part 7 by the part 16. In this case 28 represents a recess in the part 26 of the 'desired depth and width, and

29 another or` further recess formed below and preferably centrally the side walls oi the recessl 28. Part 27 is shown provided with a lug 30. In this construction the recesses are combined and one lugserves the purpose of the two lugs illustrated in the other construction, and first engages or drops into the recess 28, and thereafter into the recess 29. Recess 28, however, is of sufficient width to permit the lug to'engage during the time the same may travel between the two side walls. Obviously the opposite sides of the members may be similarly constructed. The action is the same as the other form and the construction is the full equivalent.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned,

What Ipclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y l. In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a vmovable gate part and .a fixed fence part, and gate 'locking means carried by one part and arranged to kdetachably engage the other part, compris'- ing a member formed with a plurality of dissimilar recesses therein and secured on one of said parts, a second member mounted on said first member and rotatable relative thereto, said second member provided with means for engaging the other part and with lugs arranged to engage in said recesses, said recesses and lugs diiering in sizes, whereby the second member is partiallyy rotatable on first member when one lug is in engagement with its recess and non-rotatable when the other lug is engaged with its v recess. f

' 2. Ina gate latch of the kind described and inv combination, a substantially fixed part, and a second part mounted in proximity thereto, and lrotatable andy slidable relative the first part, one part provided with v imity thereto, and rotatable and sldable ranged to engage in the recesses of the other part, one lug being of greater Ydepth than the other, and arrangedtojengage in said larger mentioned recess. f

3. In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a substantiallyV fixed part, and a second part mounted in proxrelative the first part, one part provided with a plurality of recesses, onerecess being' relatively narrower and shallower than the other, the Vother part provided with lugs arranged to engage in the recesses of the other part, one lug eing of greater depth than the other, and arranged to engage in said larger mentioned recess, means for securing one ot' said parts in place, the other part provided with forked arms projecting` at one side thereof, and means for normally holding said parts in operative engagement, whereby the same are locked against relative rotation.

4. In a gate latch of the kind described, comprising a tubular part having a flange thereabout and formed with a recess below the face of said ange on one side, and a recess on the opposite side of greater depth and width than the first mentioned recess, a second part mounted on said Vtirst mentioned part and rotatable relative thereto, said second part provided with forked arms at one side, and with lugs arranged to engage in'said recesses, one of saidlugs being 'of greater depth than the other, and of' less width than its recess, a means arranged to normally maintain said second part in engagement with said firstv part.

5. In agate latch of the kind described, comprising a tubular part having a flange thereabout and formed with a recess below the face of said flange on one side, and a recess on the opposite side of greater depth the other the rotatable sldable part mounted on said first `rmentioned part and rotatable relative thereto,

at one side, and with lugs arranged to engage in said recesses,-one of said lugs beingof greater depth than the other, and of less Width than its recess, a means arranged to normally maintain said sldable part in engagement with said first part, and a housing for inclosing said means.

6. -In a device of the kind described and in combination, a bar, a rotatable part secured on said bar, said part being provided with a plurality of recesses, one recess being larger than the-other in depth and width, a second part mounted on said bar and slidable and rotatable thereon, said second part provided with a pair of forked arms at one side and with lugs arranged to engage in the recesses on the other part, the lug forsaidV large recess being of greater height than the other, and of less width vthan its recess, a spring arrangedon said bar, having one end bearing against said second part, meansfor engaging the other end of said spring, and a housing arranged to inclose said spring and said spring-engaging means, said housing provided with openings for the removal of said spring-engaging means. n s

7 In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a pair of relatively mov- `said sldable part provided'with forked arms able coperating parts, one rotatable relative n i the other, said parts provided with coperating interengaging means, whereby'l upon moving one part toward the other the rotatable part may be only partially rotated, and uponr further movement of one part toward part will be locked against rotation. Y

- In testimony whereof, I have hereuntoV signed my name in the presence of two suband width than the first mentioned recess, ay

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the @Gommissioner of Patents,

scribing witnesses.

, JOSEPH B. CLAY. Witnesses ROY W. HInL, CHARLES'I. COBB.

Washington; D C. 

